Submenu

You are here

Candy Coded: What You Need to Know About Your Favorite Sweets

It seems like these days there's always a reason for a sweet treat — holidays, baby showers, birthdays, and the list goes on. We could tell you not to eat it, but unless you have the willpower of a saint everyone craves sugar once in a while. To help, we got the dish on the best drugstore treats to nibble on and the ones to completely nix.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

"If you're craving chocolate, then the darker, the better," says Katie Cavuto Boyle, RD, owner of Healthy Bites. "Dark chocolate has less sugar, is dairy-free, and is rich in antioxidants that have been shown to reduce blood pressure and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease."

Go Nuts!

"Chocolate that contains nuts may be even better for you, because the nuts contain a variety of nutrients and healthy fats that may displace some of the total chocolate, sugar, etc.," says Marie Spano, RD, owner of Marie Spano Nutrition Consulting in Atlanta.

Lighten Up

"Some of the unhealthiest candy choices are loaded with sugar, fat, and artery-clogging saturated fat," says Boyle. "3 Musketeers is a good alternative, as it is significantly lower in calories and fat."

Step Away from the Big Bar

"Go for the smaller portion sizes instead of big bars, because even if you tell yourself that you're only going to eat half, you will inevitably finish the whole thing," says Spano. But be aware that some small treats can add up fast, too. "Stick to mini-size candy bars that are low in calories and fat, and limit yourself to one," says Boyle.

Put a Lid on It

"Instead of keeping your candy out in the open where temptation is greatest, like in a bowl beside your bed, place it in the cupboard. That way you won't be tempted to treat yourself all day long," says Boyle. Buying individually wrapped candy bars rather than bags that you can pour out easily could also help curb cravings.

Save Your Kisses

Don't be fooled: A kiss is not just a kiss. There are now seven different types of Hershey's Kisses, plus a seasonal pumpkin-flavored one, and they each have unique nutritional info. If they all taste the same to you, go for the gold wrapper — they've got less fat.

Take a Lickin'

"Most hard candies have fewer calories than chocolate, but they're straight sugar, so it's all about portion control. Choose a lollipop or Jolly Rancher that you can suck on for a while, which naturally prevents you from eating as much," says Boyle. Just be sure to brush your teeth afterwards, as these candies can also increase your risk of cavities, she warns.

Grab a Better Bag

"If you're debating which bag of M&Ms to open up, I would pick either the dark chocolate or almond ones," says Boyle. "Or, you could put the two together to create your own flavor that's full of antioxidants and protein." Most importantly, don't wolf down the whole bag at once — eating just a few should curb your candy cravings without tipping the scale, she says.

Pay Attention to the Fine Print

It might be common sense, but don't forget to look at the label! "Candy is candy — the ingredient list is never going to win nutrition prizes, but when purchasing chocolate, look for chocolate to be the first ingredient and sugar to come later," says Boyle. Dark, non-alkalized (it still contains health-benefiting polyphenols) chocolate is best, adds Spano. "You should also try to avoid partially hydrogenated oils," she says. And as with all foods, the more ingredients you can pronounce the better.